The opening ceremonies weren't much of a surprise, since members of the Patriots had thrown out the first pitch after winning the Super Bowl in 2002. When then won again in 2004, I remember thinking, "Well, I guess we know who's throwing the first pitch at Fenway this year!" While I had nothing but joy when they won the first time, and plenty of admiration as I watched their thrilling last-minute, come-from-behind, "Cowboy-up"-style playoff run the second time, it was with a twinge of jealousy that I watched them bring both trophies onto the field today. I was happy for them, and for their fans, but when would it be my turn to see my trophy when my Sox won? Before they came out for the first pitch, though, the introduction of the starting lineups was nicely done. Many Red Sox legends from the past walked onto the field in pairs. Johnny Pesky, Charlie Wagner, Dick Radatz, Frank Malzone, Jerry Moses, former manager Joe Morgan, Ted Lepcio, Dick Berardino, Bruce Hurst, Skip Lockwood, Billy
Conigliaro, Tommy Harper, Rich Gedman, Jim Corsi, Bob Montgomery, Rick Miller, Dennis Eckersley, Luis Tiant, Jim Rice, Dwight Evans, and Carl Yastrzemski all returned. They lined up on either side of a red carpet, greeting the current players as they each came out of the dugout.

The game matched Bronson Arroyo against Toronto's Ted Lilly. Byung-Hyun Kim, originally expected to be the number-five starter, was on the D.L., giving Arroyo the chance to start. Nomar Garciaparra opened the year on the disabled list with an achilles heel injury, and Trot Nixon was also out with a back injury. Both players were expected back before the end of April, but for now the starting lineup had Johnny Damon in center, Bill Mueller at third, Ellis Burks as DH, Manny Ramirez in left, David Ortiz at first, Kevin Millar in right, Jason Varitek behind the plate, Mark Bellhorn at second, and Pokey Reese at shortstop. The Jays got on the board first, with two runs in the second and another two in the fourth. The Red Sox scored a run in the third, and then finally got going in the bottom of the fourth, when back-to-back doubles by Manny and Ortiz plated a run. A few batters later, the bases were loaded with two outs and light-hitting Reese was up. We all jumped to our feet and chanted, "Pokey, Pokey," and
he rewarded us with a double, scoring two more runs to tie the game. Varitek's solo homer in the sixth gave the Sox a 5-4 lead.

Newcomer Mark Malaska pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, but Mike Timlin allowed three runs in the eighth. Alan Embree started the ninth by allowing a home run to Carlos Delgado, then got one out before walking the next batter. Francona went to the bullpen, and called upon... Dave McCarty. The backup first baseman/outfielder was trying his hand as a lefty reliever. He had done OK in a couple of innings in Spring Training against minor leaguers, but had shut down pitching to focus on hitting early in the Grapefruit League season. It was a fascinating concept to have a position player who could also pitch. It would, in essence, free up an additional roster spot, and the late-game lefty-righty bullpen moves could be interesting. However intriguing it sounded, though, it would only be worthwhile if he was decent as a pitcher. Today he made his major league pitching debut, apparently to save the bullpen which was taxed after a long game last night. He retired the first batter on a groundout, before issuing a walk, throwing a wild pitch, and giving up a two-run double. He eventually got Reed Johnson to ground out to end the inning, but by then they were down 10-5. So much for the Great McCarty Experiment (although he would go on to pitch - with more success - in a game in June and another in October). The Sox went in order in the ninth, with pinch hitter Brian Daubach making the final out.